Ecological Elements in Thomas More’s Utopia: Rhetoric in Utopian Literature

Abstract

This paper explores Thomas More’s view of ecology as a trope embedded in his literary and philosophical work, Utopia (1516). It is well recognised that More’s book plays a significant role in utopian literature in terms of the true origin of the genre. This socio-political satire utilizes various kinds of literary rhetoric – some inherited by other authors and recognised as elements in later utopian writings. It remains uncertain, though, whether More’s book has specifically influenced subsequent utopian works with respect to ecology or environmental issues. This paper attempts to uncover More’s rhetorical technique and to appraise his ecological views.

After careful consideration of the rhetoric and the ecological elements in the book, it is revealed that More adopts a narrative technique that makes the story more complicated to encourage readers to actively participate in a discussion of the work. In addition, he divides his identity into two fictional characters and sets them as narrators. By analysing dialogues between such characters, it is found that the author’s views on ecology—“agriculture-first” principle and communal property—are concealed in one of the narrators. More’s ecological views are consequently shown to be a significant and constituent element in this form of traditional literature.